1987 Soft-Rock Theme for a Comedy Cult Classic Was a No. 1 Hit 39 Years Ago Today

39 years ago today, on April 4, 1987, Starship’s soft rock classic “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” became a No. 1 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it stayed for two weeks. 

Co-written by Diane Warren and Albert Hammond, the successful power ballad served as the band’s third and final No. 1, following hits “We Built This City” and “Sara.” Before that, Starship had earned success under its previous two names, Jefferson Starship and Jefferson Airplane. 

“Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” was performed as a duet between original band members Grace Slick and Mickey Thomas, and released a year before Slick — who, at 47, became the oldest woman to earn a No. 1 in the U.S. — left the group. The recording finds the two bandmates taking turns singing a verse before coming into a soaring chorus. 

The Lyrics

Lyrically, the song is all about finding that one romantic love interest that takes your breath away. So much so, you’re willing to fight for them through thick and thin.   

“… Let them say we’re crazy, I don’t care about that / Put your hand in my hand, baby, don’t ever look back,” the lyrics go before the chorus hits with: “… And we can build this dream together / Standing strong forever / Nothing’s gonna stop us now / And if this world runs out of lovers / We’ll still have each other / Nothing’s gonna stop us / Nothing’s gonna stop us now, oh-whoa.”

Clocking in at four minutes and twenty-seven seconds, “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” served as Warren’s first No. 1 hit. She would go on to secure more hits throughout her career, with credits behind songs like Celine Dion’s “Because You Loved Me,” Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” and Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time,” among others. 

According to Stereogum, the inspiration behind “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” came from Hammond, who had gone through a divorce and felt that his prior marriage was keeping him from being with someone else.   

Made for the Movies

Along with its success as an ‘80s anthem about love, “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” also served as the theme song to the cult classic film, Mannequin, starring actors Andrew McCarthy, who played the role of the character Jonathan Switcher, and Kim Cattrall, who played the role of Emmy Hesire.

The accompanying music video for “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” features members of Starship as well as select footage from the 1987 Michael Gottlieb-produced movie. The film earned a nomination for Best Original Song at the 60th Academy Awards for “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now”. 

In addition to taking the No. 1 spot on the Hot 100 chart, “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now,” which appears on Starship’s 1987 album, No Protection, went on to become the band’s best-selling single, also topping the chart in several other countries, including Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. 

Related: 1987 No. 1 Pop Classic Resurfaces 38 Years Later With Country Star’s Reimagined Cover